Internal-combustion engines – Intake manifold – Manifold tuning – balancing or pressure regulating means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-25
2001-08-28
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Intake manifold
Manifold tuning, balancing or pressure regulating means
C123S184440
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279528
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention lies in the automotive technology field. More specifically, the invention pertains to an intake device for an internal combustion engine. The intake device includes a collector or first manifold, which takes in ambient air via an intake connection. Inlet pipes connect the collector to inlets into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine and are disposed closely adjacent one another in a portion between the collector and the cylinders and are formed in their walls with mutually facing, adjacent openings. The openings are selectively opened or closed by at least one control flap with a shaft controlled by a control device.
International publication WO 96/07022 discloses an intake device which comprises inlet pipes that branch off from a collector and lead into inlets of cylinders of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, the intake device has control flaps, which are respectively arranged in an opening between two inlet pipes and are mounted so as to be pivotable. If the control flaps are pivoted in such a way that the openings are closed, the effective length of the inlet pipes, that is the length over which the gas column in the inlet pipe oscillates, corresponds to the length of the inlet pipes from the collector to the inlets of the cylinders. If the control flaps are pivoted in such a way that the opening is opened, the effective length of the inlet pipes corresponds to the distance from the opening up to the inlets of the cylinders. Depending on measured values of the operating variables of the internal combustion engine, one of the two effective lengths of the inlet pipes is set. Thus, the charging of the cylinders can be improved and the maximum torque can therefore be increased.
Bearing collars are provided at the opening against which the control flap comes to bear when it is pivoted in such a way as to close the opening.
The intake system is a substantial source of engine noise and automotive technology is subject to increasingly stringent statutory provisions which establish the limit values for the amplitude of the sound waves produced by motor vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an intake device for an internal combustion engine which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which exhibits reduces noise generation in all operating states of the internal combustion engine.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an intake device for an internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders having inlets, comprising:
a collector taking in ambient air via an intake connection;
a plurality of inlet pipes extending from the collector to respective inlets of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, the inlet pipes being closely adjacent one another in a portion between the collector and the cylinders and being formed with mutually facing openings in mutually facing walls;
a controlled control flap formed with a shaft and being pivotally disposed to selectively close the facing openings; and
a bearing bush supporting the shaft and a separate, annular damping element inserted in the bearing bush.
The objects of the invention are satisfied in that the shaft of the control flap is provided with a damping element. The damping element is arranged directly on the shaft or else on a mating part fitted onto the shaft. Impact produced by the shaft knocking against the bearing bush is damped in this way. The transmission of noises generated by the knocking of the shaft against the bearing bush to the intake device and the surroundings of a motor vehicle in which the intake device is arranged is additionally damped. A further advantage is that the damping elements increase the seal-tightness of the bearing bush.
In the alternative, the damping element is fitted into the bearing bush. Impact produced by the knocking of the shaft against the bearing bush is damped in this way. The transmission of noise generated by the knocking of the shaft against the bearing bush to the intake device and the surroundings of a motor vehicle in which the intake device is arranged is additionally damped.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the damping element is disposed on the shaft.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the damping element is formed of elastomer.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, first and second sealing hoods are disposed concentrically to the shaft at mutually opposite axial ends of the control flap. Each of the sealing hoods is open to a side remote from the control flap and, on a side towards the control flap they are positive-lockingly connected to the control flap.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, a sealing lip is formed at an edge portion of the control flap and integrally formed in one piece with the first and second sealing hoods.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the sealing hoods are each formed with a bead projecting beyond the sealing lip.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the first and second sealing hoods are formed of elastomer.
The sealing hoods ensure that the control flap reliably closes the opening in a sealed manner in the radial direction around the shaft. This also compensates for axial play, with the result that production tolerances are compensated and reliable functioning of the throttle valve is ensured in a wide temperature range with seal-tightness at all times. The sealing hood also ensures additional acoustic isolation of the control valve from the intake device.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in intake device, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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International Publication No. WO 95/16112, Jun. 15, 1995.
International Publication No. WO 96 07022 A1 (Espe et al.), dated Mar. 7, 1996.
Happenhofer Werner
Scheytt Mathias
Schmidt Stefan
Schwaiger Helmut
Greenberg Laurence A.
Huynh Hai
Kamen Noah P.
Lerner Herbert L.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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